fer me like, a really loved watchin that ugly brazilian fella who kept losing ta fedor. In his other fytes of course) He duz that triangle, armbar and oma plata thingy and kept doin between them from hyz back. Simple thing s lyk, just drilling ower and ower agayn.

Let me just play Devil's advocate here for a second. Take for a second De La Riva, he was super awesome because he was brought up in an environment where everyone did the basics to a very high level. He made his name because he was 'forced' to come up with something new and less basic to overcome the guys that were physically stronger and awesome at the basics. I ( as a humble blue belt) think that everyone can be better than they are at the basics and often it will be more worthwhile improving that part of your game but you shouldn't necessarily forget the more 'flashy' moves. My favourite and highest percentage move could be considered flashy by some. And what fun would it be if we just did the same stuff over and over? Fair enough if you want to be a UFC champion, but for us mere mortals who are just too old to be the best, it's just so much fun to learn the crazy stuff!

Let me just play Devil's advocate here for a second. Take for a second De La Riva, he was super awesome because he was brought up in an environment where everyone did the basics to a very high level. He made his name because he was 'forced' to come up with something new and less basic to overcome the guys that were physically stronger and awesome at the basics. I ( as a humble blue belt) think that everyone can be better than they are at the basics and often it will be more worthwhile improving that part of your game but you shouldn't necessarily forget the more 'flashy' moves. My favourite and highest percentage move could be considered flashy by some. And what fun would it be if we just did the same stuff over and over? Fair enough if you want to be a UFC champion, but for us mere mortals who are just too old to be the best, it's just so much fun to learn the crazy stuff!

I kind of agree with that actually. Looking at the top level guys now, how many of them, sans Roger, would you describe as having a 'basic' game? Not very many. Braulio, Mendes bros, Cobrinha, Marcelo Garcia, Langhi, Barral, Ryan Hall, etc. Everyone at that level has great basics so double leg to stack pass to kimura from side control just isn't going to cut it against them, you have to learn some 'crazy stuff' to catch people out.